Inaugural speech plagiarism, heads must roll

Ghanaians were promised a first class government by president Nana Akuffo Addo and his NPP so deserve to receive such classic government but not dishonesty. No society on earth condones theft with pride as witnessed in our country just in a four- day-old government.

On the 7th of January, 2017, a new day and a new page in Ghana's political history was born. It was the day an incumbent govt, peacefully handed over power or transferred power to a new opposition govt. The day, a twice defeated opposition leader, Nana Adu Dawka Akuffo Addo, was sworn into office, as the Commander In Chief of the Ghana Armed forces.

Instead of rejoicing and priding ourselves in this historic feat and success, Ghanaians were greeted with a dishonest lifting (plagiarism), of speeches from notable USA leaders, by Eugene Arhin, who is the incoming govt's Director of Communications.

In fact, he lifted from George W. Bush, speech, verbatim, word for word, delivered on Sat, January 20, 2001, with no acknowledgement at all , thinking that Ghanaians are low- information people and will not read through the speech. The said plagiarism or plagiarised act, by Eugen Arhin, is incapabilities, cognitive deficit and dishonest, on his part, and therefore, unfit to occupy such august office of the highest order, like a presidential Director of Communications.

There is no excuse, there is no pampering in this high profile daylight stealing and dishonesty, exhibited by Mr. Eugene Arhin. His non apology apology - that it was an oversight quote is inexcusable and must be fired to save Ghana from further disgrace in future.

Mr.Eugene Arhin, has brought lots of shame on Ghana and does not need to apologize but humbly bow out with resignation. His action, has brought mockery, shame and laughter to Ghanaians in the eyes of its African peers, especially, the invited guests globally. The distinguished guests of honor present in the colorful occasion could not have believed their ears listening to a speech that was tainted with robbery.

The Director of Communications later apology is not enough, as speech writing or pieces in normal cases, will have to pass through many reading stages before final work. So, if he claimed to be sorry for non-acknowledgement, then it means that he is careless and unprofessional to occupy such a sensitive position.

The President, Nana Akuffo Addo, must show Ghanaians that he truly means business by firing the disgraced Director of Communications at the presidency.